I can get there, but I did not know that
Leroux had made his arrangements already. In brief, he is in pursuit
of me and I have urgent reasons for avoiding him. My companion is a
lady----"

"Eh?" he exclaimed, looking stupidly at me.

"And I am anxious to take her to the chateau, where we shall be safe
from the man----"

"A lady!" exclaimed the captain. "A young one? Why didn't you tell me
so at first, _monsieur_? I'll take you. I will do anything for an
enemy of Leroux. He put my brother in jail on a false charge because
he wouldn't bow to him--my brother died there, _monsieur_--that was his
wife who opened the door to you. And the children, who might have
starved, if I had not been able to take care of them! And he has tried
to rob me of my position, only it is a Dominion one--the rascal!"

The captain was becoming incoherent. He drew his sleeve across his
eyes.

"But a lady!" he continued, with forced gaiety a moment later, "I do
not know your business, _monsieur_, but I can guess, perhaps----"

"But you must not misunderstand me," I interposed. "She is not----"

"It's all right!" said the captain, slapping me upon the back. "No
explanations! Not a word, I assure you. I am the most discreet of
men. Madeleine!"

This last word was a deep-chested bellow, and in response a little girl
came running in, staggering under the weight of the captain's overcoat
of raccoon fur.

"That is my overcoat voice," he explained, stroking the child's head.
"My niece, _monsieur_. The others are boys. I wish they were all
girls, but God knows best. And, you see, a man can save much trouble,
for by the tone in which I call Madeleine knows whether it is my
overcoat or my pipe or slippers that I want, or whether I am growing
hungry."

I thought that the captain's hunger voice must shake the rafters of the
old building.

"And now, _monsieur_," he continued seriously, when we had left the
house, "I am going to take you down to the pier and show you my boat.
And I will tell you as much as I know concerning the plans of that
scoundrel. In brief, it is known that a party of his friends has been
quartered for some time at the chateau; they come and go, in fact, and
now he is either taking more, or the same ones back again, and God
knows why he takes them to so desolate a region, unless, as the rumour
is, he has discovered coal-fields upon the seigniory and holds M.
Duchaine in his power. Well, _monsieur_, a party